Donald McNeely

Donald Tant McNeely, 88, of Morehead City, passed away Sunday Nov. 8, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, after a long battle with Multiple Symptom Atrophy (MSA) with Lewy Body.

According to his wishes, his body was cremated.  Services will be private.

Don McNeely was born Dec. 11, 1926 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Archibald and Mildred (McKee) McNeely.

McNeely was a broadcasting pioneer.  In 1943, while still in high school, he became an announcer on KFVS radio in Cape Girardeau.  He served as a corporal in the United States Army during World War II, and was sent to the University of Pennsylvania to be trained as a Japanese interpreter.  After the war ended, he served in Japan with the Army of Occupation working with Armed Forces Radio.

He received a BA in Speech and Theatre from Southeast Missouri State University and an MA in Speech from Northwestern University.

In 1954, KFVS-TV, a CBS affiliate, was one of the first television stations in the Midwest granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission.  The first image that viewers in the area saw was Don McNeely, welcoming them to the age of television.  KFVS-TV reaches a six-state area including parts of Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Southwestern Indiana, Northwest Tennessee, and Northeast Arkansas.

He served in many capacities at KFVS-TV, on the air as a news and weather anchor, and behind the scenes as the station’s programming and promotions director.  In later years, he focused exclusively on weather, appearing every day on the station’s evening newscasts.   A member of the American Meteorological Society and certified with the AMS seal of approval, viewers knew they could count on him for calm, clear, and accurate reporting.  “Don Said It Would” became a catchphrase in the region every time it rained or snowed.  He retired in 1993, accomplishing a full 50 years in broadcasting.

McNeely was an accomplished amateur actor and appeared in many community theatre and university theatre productions.  In 1974, at age 48, he played Benjamin Franklin in the Southeast Missouri State University production of the musical “1776” and won the award for best actor of the year.

He was a talented musician, playing both the clarinet and saxophone.  He was a member of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for many years and also headed his own dance band in the 1950s.  He was a licensed private pilot and enjoyed flying his own plane.   He was an avid snow skier and a world traveler.  He was a passionate and life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan.

He served as both Deacon and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau, as President of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Association, and on the board of Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was married to his devoted and loving wife, Suanne Harbison McNeely, for 62 years.

In late 2009, he and his wife sold their house in Missouri and moved to Morehead City to be near their children.  His son-in-law, photographer Marc Montocchio, is the owner of the Marc Montocchio Gallery at 712 Arendell Street in Morehead City.  Don loved the Crystal Coast and enjoyed living on Bogue Sound and watching the boats go by.

Don’s final months were made infinitely more comfortable and happy through the sensitive and compassionate care of Friendly Caregivers of Morehead City, 3HC Home Health Care, The Crystal Coast Hospice House, and Dr. Cas Cader.

He is survived by his wife Sue, their daughters, Donna Sue McNeely Burke (Joseph) of North Bethesda, MD; Laura Beth McNeely Montocchio (Marc) of Morehead City; grandsons Christopher Lee Davis (Vanessa Wilburn) of Austin, TX, Marco James Di Pasquale of North Bethesda, MD; step-grandson Bernard Wyatt Burke of North Bethesda, MD; sister, Jane McNeely Bruns (Donald) of Rockville, MD; and many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Jerry Clark McNeely and Joe Harris McNeely, his daughter Cathy McNeely Davis, and an infant son, Scott Harbison McNeely.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Don’s memory be honored with donations to the Don McNeely Scholarship in Speech and Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University c/o Trudy Lee, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701; the First Presbyterian Church, 235 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701; or the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association c/o Leanne Schenimann, 474 Duskin Lane, Jackson, MO 63755.